King and queen for a day

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Barbara and Ted Goon will be having a royal

Valentine’s Day this year.

Barbara, 83, and Ted, 88, will be crowned the Valentine’s Day King and

Queen at their home at Huntington Terrace Residential Care on Sunday.

Residents voted for the happy couple, who married each other 17 years

ago. They were both widowed.

The two first met after World War II, when their families lived next door

to each other in Corona Del Mar. After a few years of friendship, their

paths separated.

“We didn’t have contact again for 30 years,” Ted said.

During those 30 years, Ted was living in Brentwood, and Barbara was

living in Marin County.

While on a business trip to Barbara’s part of the state, Ted called her

on a whim and really didn’t expect to hear back from her.

“I called the number and hit the jackpot,” Ted said.

Though the two decided to keep in contact with each other, Ted’s son and

daughter had fond memories of their former neighbor and wanted more for

the two.

“They decided to take it over, beginning the adventure,” Ted said.

The children arranged for Barbara to visit them.

“My children ordered me to develop a close relationship with her, or

they’d shoot me,” Ted said.

Soon after, Barbara and Ted had a shotgun wedding.

“I enjoyed being the center of attention,” said Barbara, referring to the

doting she received from Ted’s children. “They were a wonderful family,

and now we’re two big happy families.”